Just As I Am Fashion Show Silent Auction

Purpose: The annual Special Needs Fashion Show, Just As I Am, is held in memory of Jacob Usher, an alumni student with Down Syndrome who passed away due to congenital heart defect at the age of seven. The event provides families with children with special needs the opportunity to strut across the runway, celebrating what makes them special. It provides community awareness about developmental disorders, as well as the need to serve those families in our community.

Partners In Learning provides center, home, and community programs to families in and around Rowan County. Through our inclusive center based early education program, we serve over 80 students with special needs or behavioral concerns. This equates to 30% of our enrollment. In addition to the center-based families we serve, we provide family education and support services to over 250 families in Rowan County. It is our mission to provide these critical services at as little, or no cost, as possible.

We are thankful of our event sponsor who donated in memory of Shirley Ritchie as well as all the additional sponsors and volunteers who made this event possible.

A premier childcare and community impact organization that works for the needs of all families in the community. Located in Salisbury, North Carolina, Partners In Learning strives to improve the lives of young children and their families daily.

We are a model center for inclusion, providing early intervention services to children with special needs, including developmental therapy and special instruction, as well as support for parents.